1889 Builders Handbook - Construction by Vidistar Dome

CONVENIENT HOUSES WITH

Fifty Plans for the

Housekeeper

ARCHITECT AND HOUSEWIFE — A JOURNEY THROUGH THE HOUSE — FIFTY CONVENIENT HOUSE PLANS — PRACTICAL HOUSE BUILDING FOR THE OWNER — BUSINESS POINTS IN BUILDING — HOW TO PAY FOR A HOME

LOUIS

GIBSON

ARCHITECT

NEW YORK: THOMAS Y. CROWELL &

CO.

CHAPTER PRACTICAL

THE

DRAINING WALKS.

MASON

book

manner

HOUSE ON

WORK.

LOT.

FOUNDATIONS.

DAMP COURSE.

CISTERNS.

FLUES.

section of the

plain a

LOCATION OF

CELLAR.

PIERS.

this

WATER.

POINTS.

XXVII.

proposed to consider,

as possible, the construction of

all

in as

the details

of a house.

LOCATING THE HOUSE. First

the placing of the house on the

east or a west front,

house within a few gives set

common

lot

may

one's neighbors have done or

line.

The

more south and sun exposure.

back from the front of the

have an

a small lot this

distance the house

depends largely upon what In the case of a north

do.

or south frontage, the west side of the house to the west line.

to set the north side of the

north

feet of the

lot.

usually placed

This brines the east side of the house

in the

Under any circumstances, there should never than eighteen inches of space beyond the north or west

afternoon shade.

less

wall.

If the

more than

projection of cornice

greater, there should be

this.

WATER.

The next thine

do when one begins

provide water for the builder. service,

used,

any

;

otherwise from

best to locate

on 197

This a well.

build,

from the If

city

driven

water

well

the inside of the house, near

CONVENIENT HOUSES.

198

the kitchen sink, and allow the builder to provide a

pump

pumps should go sary that

The

use during building operations.

for

into the plumber's contract.

the plumbing contract be

all

water service

let

The method

supplied.

cistern It is

at the

common and well

not neces-

time the city

of letting contracts

explained in another part of the book.

EXCAVATING. In excavating for a house, the loam, or upper strata of earth,

should be separated from that which comes below.

After the

walls are placed, the openings around the outside should not

mortar

once

filled

certainly not until the wall

;

After

set.

The grade

dry and the

the grading and filling should begin.

this,

of the house should be slightly above that of

line

the sidewalk, and there should be a general slope to is

an alley

possible.

in the rear, the slope

The

with the plumbing, gas supplies,

Thus

the building period.

should be divided to reach

excavating and

drainage,

etc.,

that there will

be removed from the

filling

it,

connected

should be done early

the entire surface

and natural by the time the building

become apparent

If there

it.

becomes compact If

should

earth,

should

finished.

be superfluous

lot.

DRAINING.

Where where This tile

there

a clay

soil,

done

in various

ways

around and below the

in sections of the

;

usually by running an open farm

level of the cellar wall,

have connection preferably with a dry well presents this

kind

itself, is

country

be damp, they should be drained.

cellars are inclined to

and

;

but

which should

nothing better

with the sewer drain, although a connection of

not safe.

The

air

which

will

come

into this drain

PRACTICAL HOUSE-BUILDING. from the sewer

contaminate the

will

soil,

and

the health of the occupants of the building. a sewer connection from this drain

should

199

in that

some

way

affect

instances

necessary, but only then

be used.

Another method of draining a

cellar

the level of lowest mason-work, and

twelve inches with broken stone, which

a depth of about

fill

given a drain connec-

The space between stone

tion with proper outlet.

below

to excavate

particles acts

as a drain.

MASON-WORK. The mason-work should be consider that of brick, which is

sometimes

used

of brick or stone. is

common

brick

for

First,

to frame

The

buildings.

houses and foundations,

walks, piers, and flues should be of hard burned brick.

should

excepting

wet,

laid

weather, with lime

All

freezing

The

mortar.

will

outside ex-

posed brick should be preferably of a dark cherry-red color, laid in white or red

The for

latter is

most general

exposed work should be

cated in Fig. 30 called "

rodded

;

joints."

and the mortar

Then

cated.

form as

joints indi-

mason's parlance, these are

The

with trowel, then the rod joint,

The

use. in

mortar.

joint

is first

cut

down from

placed along the upper edge of the

away with a

cut

knife in the form indi-

the vertical joints are trimmed in the

same way

thus no mortar projects beyond the face of the brick.

form

of joint

desirable

for

all

where one desires better work than other exposed brick work.

common

above,

kinds is

of exposed

;

This work,

usual in foundations and

Brick work should have struck or

joints in the cellar

and outside exposed

walls, only

CONVENIENT HOUSES.

200

where small cost rough where

left

grade is

of great importance.

Brick work should be

desired to plaster.

Foundation walls and

it is

continue

usually

piers

from

sixteen

twenty or twenty-four inches

;

placed a

sill

inches

most common.

above

generally begin from eighteen to thirty inches below grade

where not influenced by the the freezing line feet

cellar.

line,

In an ordinarily cold climate

four or five feet.

Eighteen inches or two

usual, however, in the construction of frame buildings,

and the

results are not unsatisfactory.

or hard limestone to prevent the

damp-course of

sometimes placed just above the grade

slate line,

passage of moisture from the brick wall below to

that above.

These general statements as

alike to that

used

in brick

to brick

work apply

and frame buildings, as do

statements as to interior walls, chimneys,

this

Outside walls and piers

most frame houses.

thirty

etc.,

which

also the

follow.

prevent the passage of moisture through brick walls below

grade from the outside, a coating of Portland cement times used.

cement.

Coal-tar

also used, but

some-

not as good as the

CHAPTER

CELLAR.

BRICK thick;

wall

that

HOT-AIR FLUES.

under a frame house it

HOLLOW

GRATES.

ASH-PITS.

is,

COL-

DETAILS

CHIMNEYS AND FLUES.

CONSTRUCTION.

BRICK

BRICK VENEERING.

BRICKS.

WALLS.

COLORED MORTARS.

LAYING BRICK.

BRICK FOUNDATIONS.

ORED

XXVIII.

ordinarily nine inches

called a nine-inch wall.

the thickness of the length of a brick.

In reality,

Under these

walls are

For a two-story frame house there are usually

placed footings.

Thus

two footings of two courses each projecting two inches.

a nine-inch wall would have the bottom footing seventeen inches

wide. a

work there

In ordinary American brick

bond

to each

The bond

seventh course.

what

called

made by

laying

the brick crosswise the wall rather than lengthwise. it

ties

or bonds the wall together in the direction of

Below grade, where the brick work

made by

its

This

the wall. stretcher

bond

made by

not exposed, the bond

way, and the header

lies

Above

laying each alternate brick across

called a header

the brick which

way

length.

laying a continuous course of brick in this way.

the grade, the

mon

In that

and stretcher bond.

The

lengthwise the wall in the com-

the one which shows

runs crosswise the wall to form the bond.

Thus

its

there

head and is

a con-

â&#x20AC;˘

tinuous row of alternating headers and stretchers in the bond course,

which

occurs,

said

before,

Another bond, by some brick-layers does not show on the outside.

The

each seventh course.

called the

American bond,

corners of the inside of the

outer row of bricks are clipped, so that the bond brick runs part

CONVENIENT HOUSES.

202

way

the outside course, and thus

into

out of sight.

arrangement and not satisfactory

artificial

The header and

struction.

stretcher

;

bond

exposed work, where both appearance and

and the Flemish, brick

All that

is,

The

ideal

all

the

best

â&#x20AC;&#x201D; the old English here.

should be thoroughly "slushed" with

mortar;

spaces between brick should be thoroughly all

for

are to be

â&#x20AC;&#x201D; but they need not be considered

condition would be to have

not good con-

solidity

There are other forms of bond,

considered.

It is

filled.

brick excepting the

exposed faces entirely surrounded by mortar.

The

selection of the brick for the

made

as well as a brick house should be

begun

While the brick cannot

up.

a frame

before the brick work

supply should be selected and piled

at least a large

;

exposed fronts

all

be of the same shade, different

shades can be selected for different walls

â&#x20AC;&#x201D;a

lighter shade for

a north wall, and a darker for a south wall, a different shade for

an east and a west the

wall.

and projections.

ells

common

brick,

Very

slight variations can

be made

This would apply to pressed, stock,

though pressed brick

usually selected be-

fore delivery.

The

best color for exposed

work

best-appearing work with indifferent brick can be

The use of mortar is made

the use of a reddish

brown mortar.

mortar

White putty

increasing.

The

a dark cherry red.

made this

with

kind of

in the ordi-

nary way, excepting that white sand, similar to that from Lake Pontchartrain, rather than gray sand,

lime than ordinary mortar.

The mortar

used. is

contains

said to be richer.

Black brick are made by heating and then dipping tar.

in coal-

Enamelled, glazed, and colored brick can be purchased

the larger markets as desired.

brick

work

are possible even

Various forms of ornamental

where only the common brick are

PRACTICAL HOUSE-BUILDING. Moulded pressed brick

used.

are

quite

203

common, and

the

results of their use very satisfactory.

Brick veneering

not unusual in sections of the country

where brick

very expensive and the effect of a brick house

desired.

a four-inch brick wall anchored to a frame struc-

The anchoring

ture.

twenty-penny

nails

sometimes accomplished by driving

into

wood-work

way

project into

joints.

Hot-air flues in brick walls are sometimes tin-lined, though this is it is

not necessary

when they

make them

possible to

are smoothly plastered, providing

eight inches square.

they cannot

be made deeper than the width of a brick, four inches, they should be tin-lined.

four-inch hot-air flue can be placed in a

nine-inch wall by setting the two outside rows of brick on edge.

Hollow walls have not been regarded with great favor during recent years, for the reason that

proper construction. in thickness,

hollow wall

difficult

secure their

usually twelve

inches

with the middle course of brick omitted excepting

the corners and

adjacent to

openings.

Suitable

ties

are

placed across the open space.

CELLAR. It

brick

now

work and

order to consider various features of interior details

which come

connection therewith.

Cellars are usually from seven to eight feet deep.

not give

cellar floor,

this

does

the height necessary for furnace or other heating

all

apparatus,

usually pitted

and a brick area

furnace-door.

;

that

built

is, it

let

down

into the

around the opening

Because of the necessity

to the

for pitting the furnace,

the walls of the house adjacent thereto should continue eighteen

inches below the level of other walls.

CONVENIENT HOUSES.

204 Walls inside of

should continue to the top of

cellar

joist.

This completely separates the different compartments of the or from that part of the house where there

cellar,

There should be a man-hole opening house where there

openings

all

wood work

The wooden

above or below a wooden ;

one

this

in a vertical or horizontal direc-

that

;

is,

there should be no mortar

Iron ventilators should

brick.

each outside wall under each room where cellar

Windows

windows are not provided. where there

Usually

it is

brick should be the thickness of the brick

and the mortar joints

provided

all

in inside brick walls.

to brick work.

about two feet six inches apart

itself

under the

brick should be provided and built in where

necessary to attach

tion.

to the parts

cellar.

and over

in cellar,

Wooden

wooden supports should be provided over

Lintels

are not usually provided

cellar.

CHIMNEYS. It is

known

have a regard is

for safety

not liable to

wood-work, which

amount

for this other than

There are reasons

chimney.

from

fire,

settle.

two inches

flues,

Portland cement.

ney should be hard-burned. there

that the chim-

does not, the shrinkage of the

where the frame comes

makes a

contact

All chimney-stacks should extend

above highest point of ridge of

points,

on a

those which

the height of the building,

with or rests on the chimney.

laid in

one of which

rest

a two-story frame house will sometimes

high place around the

directly in con-

The framework should never

chimneys.

tact with

ney

wood-work should not come

that

roof,

and the extreme tops should

All the exposed brick of the chimIf

due regard were paid

would be no rickety chimney-tops.

to these

All

flues

PRA CTICAL HO USE-B U1LDING. should be thoroughly plastered on

the

:o-

inside.

were plastered on the outside, wherever they come with the wood-work, the complaint of

chimneys contact

from defective

fires

flues

would be hushed. Fig. 3

illustrates the

ney breast where a grate

common form is

to the ash-pit

ing

two

side are entire

wide

feet

one foot

width

The

shown.

flues

are eight

passage

grate open-

the jambs on each

;

wide

six inches

of the

The

be used.

and one-half inches square.

of constructing a chim-

breast

thus the

;

five

feet.

Where

Other dimensions as indicated.

there are grates on two floors of the house,

one above the other, or where for

any reason

grate,

it is

five feet

have a

flue pass

wide.

It is clear its

the top of the chimney.

one.

desirable

around a

necessary that the breast should

from below must have

story

it is

that the orate

own flue out to Thus the grate

must pass around the grate of the second If

there

no grate above, or

from the

flue

it is

story,

first

there be

not desired to pass

a flue around the first-story grate, the chimney breast need be

only four feet wide

opening on each

that

;

to the grate, side.

is,

would have the usual two-feet

and twelve rather than eighteen inch jambs

one side of the dotted

line

indicated flue

construction for a brick wall, and on the other for a

The hearth should

made of brick. It header of wood in front.

which the is

rest

laid in the ordinary

on what

called a

wood

wall.

trimmer arch,

springs from the chimney breast to It is

four inches in thickness.

way, and at the proper time

top with concrete by the mantel-setter.

is filled

on the

In case a grate on the

CONVENIENT HOUSES.

206

second

floor

the side

connects with the ash-pit, one of the flues at

used

for this purpose.

Fig. 32 indicates a

common form

drawn close together

in this as well as Fig. 31 are

through the

attic

and roof

There should be

stem.

The flues and come out

of corner grate.

smaller

distinct separation

of flues.

made

Ash-pits are frequently inch

walls

brick

pilasters.

These

strengthened pits

of four-

by brick

usually

are

from

three to four feet in depth and the width

of the chimney breast, and nearly as high as the depth

Where more

of the cellar.

than one grate empties into an ash-pit, is

common

The top

to divide

of the pit

compartments, one

into

crowned with a brick

arch.

for

each

fire.

Ash-dumps

are sometimes provided for the grate, depending, of course,

upon

the kind of grate used, and ash-pit doors of iron for the pits

themselves.

OUTSIDE CELLAR-WAY.

The the

side walls of an outside cellar-way should continue to

bottom of

cellar.

should be floored the same as the

cellar itself.

AREAS.

Areas of brick should be provided around that continue

below grade.

be floored with paving-brick. admits of natural drainage.

The bottoms This

all

cellar

openings

of these areas should

better than cement, as

CHAPTER XXIX. TERRA COTTA. CUT STONE. PRIVY VAULTS. FILTERS FOR CISTERNS. BRICK PAVEMENTS.

STONE MASONRY. CISTERNS.

CEMENT PAVEMENTS.

STONE

native stone, and anything that

conform

cessarily

made

foundations for dwelling-houses are usually

may be

must ne-

The

to general rather than special conditions.

best stone that can be used for this purpose

There are many

limestone.

said here

varieties

hard, non-absorbent

of stone conglomerates

throughout the country which are valuable for foundation uses.

Stone should be natural

bed

laid

lime mortar in the direction of

the quarry, with a sufficiency of

For ordinary dwelling-house work there should be

bond

its

stone.

at least

one

footing eight inches in depth, and six inches projection on each

Stone walls

side of the wall.

for foundations are usually

not less than eighteen inches in thickness. a

good stone

the

feet of stone

work may

brick work, a stone foundation ordinarily

so thick. of brick

purpose. it.

not easy to lay

wall less than eighteen inches in thickness.

same number of cubic

one of brick

It is

for the

that

Where

cost less than

would cost more than

number of

stone

available at low cost

may

rest

on stone

it is

footings.

best to use

The

of stone walls should be neatly pointed after other finished.

cubic feet

does of stone work to answer the same

Interior brick walls

been

While

reason that a brick wall does not have to be

usually takes about half the

work

made

inside

work has

Stone work above grade may be finished 207

CONVENIENT HOUSES.

2o8

many ways

â&#x20AC;&#x201D; random

range work,

range work, rubble work, regular course

After the other work has been finished, the

etc.

mortar should be raked out a short distance and a finish joint added.

CUT STONE. Cut-stone work

too large a subject to consider in detail.

There

There are several points which cannot be overlooked. should be drips cut under not run drip

down

projections, so that the water will

work and

the other stone or brick

merely a

little

most window-sills.

are

dow-sill

should

all

wood work

at least

two

explained by stating that the stone win-

underlie

window cap should

In door, window, or other openings, the

may be

This

it.

found on the under side of

stone work should underlie or overlie inches.

stain

V-shaped channel cut on the under side

They

stone work.

of the

all

wood sill two the wood cap at

the

overlie

inches, least

and the

two inches.

Generally speaking, coping should project on each side of the wall about two inches.

beyond the

Sills

face of the wall.

than five inches in thickness.

should extend at least one inch Window-sills should be no less Door-sills should generally be

about seven or eight inches, and extend the face of the wall, and through

at least

its full

one inch beyond

The water window cap of

thickness.

table of the stone foundation usually forms the

the cellar windows, and the cap course, which comes at the

grade

line,

the cellar window-sills.

In this case

that the stone should run farther into the wall

necessary

where the open-

ings occur.

Stone steps are not over six and one-half to seven and onehalf inches in thickness, with from nine to twelve inch treads.

They

underlie and lap about one inch, and have walls, the

same

PRACTICAL HOUSE-BUILDING. material

the foundation,

should go to the

come

full

These walls

lower supports.

depth of the house walls with which they

Thus

contact.

for

209

there

no danger of

Stone

settling.

steps are frequently used in the front of the yard from the side-

walk

the ofrade level where there

In such cases steps,

necessary to use stone side pieces for the

and

to prevent caving

flagging

cheap,

considerable elevation.

it is

make

well to use

for

Where

a neat finish.

walks and porch

floors.

TERRA-COTTA WORK. Terra cotta

the perfection of brick-making.

building material which

not affected by changes of tempera-

which the build-

ture, or other natural or artificial conditions to

ing

may be

material

worked even result

;

subject.

that

into

is,

may be

means of

and giving a

mental terra cotta

and the best

results

form

lintel is

can be

and

arriving at the desired

a very proper manner.

modelled by

may

it.

desired, excepting long lintels,

that case there are

described as being a very plastic

anything can be done with

any form that

the only

It is

artists

Orna-

before being burned,

naturally be expected.

PRIVY VAULT.

The

size of the privy vault is usually three

and one-half by

four and one-half feet, elliptical, and from ten to twenty feet

deep, according to the character of the

up with four-inch dry brick

wall.

corners for privy building.

the privy vault should be

made

soil.

Usually

walled

Piers should be provided at

some

instances

water-tight.

it is

required that

In that case

should be built the same as a cistern, with round bottom and

cemented

interior surface.

privy vault with the sewer,

When it

desired to connect the

should be cemented

in the

manner

CONVENIENT HOUSES.

2IO

just described, with a siphon vitrified pipe connection with the

drain to the sewer.

may be thrown clogging

The siphon prevents

solid rubbish,

which

into the vault, from getting into the drain

and

it.

CISTERN.

The

cistern

generally located near the rear kitchen wall,

say ten or twelve feet therefrom. usually four inches in thickness

The when

walls, arch,

capacity of cistern does

not exceed one hundred and twenty-five barrels. brick

and neck are

work mentioned should be eight inches

Otherwise the

The

in thickness.

brick should be laid in domestic cement, and smoothly coated

with Portland cement.

should be connected with the

down

spouts of the housp by means of vitrified drain-pipe, the same as described in connection with

plumbing work, though

has

no connection therewith.

The

following table gives capacity of cisterns of various sizes.

CAPACITY OF CISTERN IN GALLONS FOR EACH TEN INCHES IN DEPTH. DIAM.

PRACTICAL HOUSE-BUILDING.

FILTERS.

There are various ways of forming a

One

filter.

have

a small cistern of eight or ten barrel capacity, located between

main

the

cistern

and house.

wall laid in mortar, but not

should be divided by a brick

cemented on

The water

either side.

enters on one side, passes through the brick wall in the middle,

and from thence

cement the side

wall, leave

an opening

the other side of the

another plan

and then

filter,

what

to is

Thus

be drawn out.

it is

has to pass through the brick before

Still

another

filter is

made by

bottom of the

pump

building

cistern.

pumped

out.

According is

to this plan, as well as

strained through the brick.

best that the cistern and independent

filter,

when

practice to connect the cistern with a dry well,

used, It is

which

constructed the same as an open vault excepting that the top

This dry-well connection

arched. vitrified

pipe laid in the

There

same manner

the

cistern

by means of

five-inch

as sewer pipe.

common among

builders,

overflow with the vault or sewer.

Nothing could be worse than polluted.

a practice, altogether too

of connecting

pipe leading to the

should be provided with iron rims and cast-iron covers.

good

It is

water has to be drawn through the brick bee-

the others mentioned, the water It

described on the

through the partition before

beehive form of brick work, with the

hive before

first

Still

All of the water passes to one

called a beehive in the

inside, so that all

the cistern.

build the partition as

of the divided cistern, and

being drawn out. it

bottom, and pack the

packing and the opening below

this

inside of the cistern proper. side

at the

on which the water enters with charcoal, sand, and Gravel.

The water passes through to

Another plan

beyond.

to the cistern

this.

The water

certain to

CONVENIENT HOUSES.

2 12

BRICK PAVEMENT. Brick pavements are used for walks around the house, and

sometimes

Brick pavement of

for cellars.

burned

Cement

for cellar floors.

bricks, laid

on a

all

floors,

made

kinds should be

six or eight inch

brick walk should not be laid until after

ing of the lot has been done.

however, are better

It is

all

of hard-

bed of sand.

The

the grading and

fill-

best to leave the brick walks

out of the general contract, so that this work can be delayed until after the

house

finished.

sodding and the paving

who

in the

same

attends to the sodding can

better advantage than

It is

good thing

contract.

The

have the

contractor

work the two together

to a

the walks were placed and the sodding

done afterwards.

CEMENT PAVEMENT. Cement pavements for cellar floors.

are used for walks around the house, and

Cement

more expensive than

surface to be covered should,

with water

after

;

crete,

made

Upon

this

which

first,

brick.

The

levelled, then saturated

laid a three-inch

bed of cement con-

of gravel, sand, and cement in proper proportions.

placed a three-fourth-inch layer of cement mortar.

Ordinary American, hydraulic cement

may be used

for concrete,

but for the three-fourth-inch layer nothing but best Portland

cement should be considered. the cellar

done by the

walks requires special

who make

skill.

Sometimes the cement work

plasterer.

Outside cement work

for

In most large cities there are those

a business of doing this work.

They have

formulas and methods of reaching the proper results.

different

CHAPTER

XI.

COMMON HEATING ARRANGEMENTS. HEAT AND VENTILATION. IDEAL CONPRESENT METHODS GENERALLY UNSATISFACTORY. DITIONS. PROPER AMOUNT OF MOISTURE RARELY ATTAINED. METHODS OF REACHING BEST RESULTS. A FURNACE DEFINED. REMOVAL OF SUPPLY OF PROPER AMOUNT OF MOISTURE. SUPPLYING FRESH AIR WITH PROPER MOISTURE FROM FOUL AIR. DIRECT AND INSTEAM AND HOT WATER HEATING. STOVES. DIRECT RADIATION.

LOW-COST HEATING APPARATUS.

only within a short time that the heating and ventilation

of buildings of any kind have been in any measure satisfactory.

This applies only to the largest buildings ventilating of smaller structures are

Most dwelling-houses

dition.

now

still

;

heating and

the

an unsatisfactory con-

are heated with stoves, which, as

The same

arranged, are not successful.

air is

heated over

and over again.

Fresh

proper source

not supplied to the interior of the building.

air in

Grates are very well in their tities

of air from the room.

of air

the proper quantities or from the

way

Thus

that they take large quan-

far

necessarily irregular, unless special

Furnaces are used

While they are in others.

for

The supply

they ventilate.

means

are provided.

heating a very large number of houses.

satisfactory in

some

respects, they are deficient

The same thing may be

said of steam, hot-water,

or other heating apparatus.

the statement has been

made

that heating systems in

general, as applied to dwelling-houses, are unsatisfactory,

may

be well to

not

state the fault,

and what 75

be desired.

CONVENIENT HOUSES.

the purpose to consider this question

highly scientific standpoint

mind

well to bear in

that

;

there

chemically, or from

no occasion

for

it.

are considering the heating

and not

ventilating of a house during cold weather,

a is

and

ventilation

its

during the summer, when natural means are to be relied upon.

Then

may be

What

asked,

be done

air

should be at the proper temperature at

in its

pure

all

Primarily the

times

;

should

found on the outside of the building, and

state, as

not contaminated with

any of the gases of combustion.

should be supplied with

its

temperature at which

proper equivalent of moisture, at the find

the room.

becomes

impure from natural causes, there should be some means of effecting

withdrawal.

its

These are the practice

The temperature

room

of the tion,

and

does

contain

its

Now

and as they

How

far

do they

ordinarily high enough.

exist in

The

air

apt to be contaminated by the gases of combus-

vitiated

parched.

done

ideal conditions.

proper equivalent of moisture

we know the conditions in fact, we will consider in

that

exist

Rarely indeed

by breathing and otherwise.

to bring about

;

dry and

their ideal state

detail

satisfactory results.

what may be

If the

heating

should be constructed of steel

wrought-iron plate, the joints thoroughly riveted and calked;

or,

apparatus be a furnace,

of other material,

should certainly be gas-tight.

precaution should be taken to prevent the passage of the

Every air

combustion from the furnace to the warm-air chambers and from thence to the rooms above. The furnace is nothing more or less

than a large stove with various radiating

arrangements,

surrounded by an iron or brick enclosure, with a supply of fresh air

from the outside, and with connecting

above.

tin

pipes to the rooms

important that the inner parts, the fire-pot, the

A JOURNEY THROUGH THE HOUSE. and gas-tight,

radiating surface, etc., be thoroughly well built -

heated

prevent the

The supply

should be so arranged that

The ever,

can never be entirely cut

air

off.

means of

How-

supply should not be necessary.

such arrangements are made, they should be limited.

The proper

equivalent of moisture should be given to the

temperature

air at the

said that there

which

reaches the room.

a mistake.

may be

a water-pan connected with every furnace,

do everything necessary

that will is

of outer air should be ample.

furnace should be of sufficient capacity so that

reducing the outer

from becoming contaminated by the

air

gases of combustion.

far as

supplying moisture.

This

know, the furnace or other heating

apparatus for dwellings has not been constructed which

The pan

vided with a proper evaporating apparatus.

pro-

set in

the side of the furnace, with an opening to the outside into

which water may be poured.

evaporating surface on the inside. outside are so poorly

be drawn its

over the water

time has

the pan, and in that

amount of moisture.

its

which

and has very

Oftentimes the joints

air

may

way prevent

The outer

air

during the winter

proper equivalent of moisture for the winter tempera

much

smaller

a higher temperature.

mer temperature, and which seeks

of the room,

everything

at the

summer tempersummer air contains

amount than would belong

its

carry

into a room,

we have

to a

air

sum-

a very dry

equivalent of moisture from the occupants

from the furniture, carpets, walls, it.

Therefore when we take winter

into the furnace or other heating apparatus, raise

air,

little

heated to a

dry and parched, whereas natural

the proper

ature,

small,

that the cold air from the cellar

Winter

proper evaporation.

ature

made

The

air

will

not

unless that moisture be supplied after

take it

ceiling,

additional

and

moisture

has reached a higher

CONVENIENT HOUSES.

For instance,

temperature.

be arranged

a spray or a series of wet blankets

in the cold-air duct,

before the air gets to the fur-

nace, the air will not take the moisture from that spray or from

damp

the

The moisture must be

blankets.

Where

air is heated.

the water-pan

and where there

furnace,

air,

well protected, surface

evaporation

Again,

naturally retarded

pan be never so

this

small, the proper

not presented.

is,

as indicated. it

on the side of the

set

a supply of air through the pan from

the cellar, as there frequently

by the cold

supplied after the

amount of evaporating

evaporating pan or other device

should be placed above the fire-pot and should occupy a large proportion of the area of the heating chamber.

The supply

water should not be dependent upon some one's attention.

should be constant by means of a ball-cock or otherwise.

should run into or drip into a shallow pan, or should be supplied to sheets of felt or blanket so that the air will

come

with the moist surfaces, at the temperature at which

room.

into the

Thus

which belongs to

it is

In this

way we have

summer

winter air from the outside going into the room at a

we have summer

summer

undertake to get around ters,

equivalent of moisture

the winter time.

air

this

interfere with the supply of

possible to

a furnace

make

warm

in the regis-

are neglected, or they

and are abandoned. is

a very simple makeshift which

consists in

suspending

floor small

water receptacles in

air,

is,

sometimes

already in a house, or where

effective.

â&#x20AC;&#x201D;

They

that

;

not

elaborate arrangements for providing the air

with moisture, there

purpose

People

by putting water-pans

but they are rarely ample.

Where

has the proper amount of moisture

at that temperature.

temperature and with a

contact

which

â&#x20AC;&#x201D;a

the

registers

quite

the

quart bucket answers every

placed a broad strip of linen.

This cloth

A JOURNEY THROUGH THE HOUSE.

should go to the bottom of the receptacle and be long enough to

hang over and below

filled

at a time, into the furnace-pipe,

drop

converted into steam.

the bucket

with water this piece of cloth acts as a siphon, and

carries the water, a it

When

for several inches.

piece of old table-linen

best material to use, for the reason that

may be evaporated

bucket.

in this

bucket of the

interfere with the

The next

out

For the same reason

Where

inches.

way

size

a moderate

twenty-four hours from each

mentioned does not

contaminated

air to

Another

One way

the outside. is

by means of ducts

which draw the

These should consist of heated

necting registers in the ceiling and

air

floor,

may be heated by

flues,

with con-

the grate

a supply of

the furnace, or by a steam-pipe in case steam

ing the house.

open-

which may be open

Under any circumstances,

flue

through the

from the room to

the outside.

foul

in the wall,

floor,

Sometimes the

any way

means of getting the

the

ing near the

necessary.

passage of heat.

point for consideration

use of grates.

when

carried through the furnace-pipe, three quarts of water

foul,

the

otherwise the cloth becomes dry

â&#x20AC;&#x201D; about twelve

should be broad,

heat

;

end, and the siphonage ceases.

at the it

can drop into the pipe

carries the water fast

enough, that the heat from the furnace does not dry before

where

warm used

best.

air

from

for heat-

In natural-gas regions, the supply of additional

heat in a flue from a furnace or by a jet would be a small matter.

have mentioned heating by stoves, grates, and furnaces.

The same

principles which apply to the furnishing of fresh air

to a furnace

may be

applied to a stove.

The

fact

is,

they never

have been.

day, that

surrounded on the outside by a second jacket, the

stove should be made, and will be

space between being connected with the outer

air

made some

by means of a

CONVENIENT HOUSES.

80 tin

tube to the under side of the stove.

could be so arranged as to be shut off the stove.

The warm

air

The supply of cold air when there was no heat in

would pass out

at the top of the jacket.

top of the stove could be placed an evaporating pan, and the

supply of moisture come therefrom.

connection with the

stove-pipe, which should be jacketed, a second ventilating flue, starting from the floor

and having an opening both above and

below, could be arranged, and in that air

and withdrawal of impure

air

way

the supply of fresh

could be accomplished.

Next we may speak of steam and hot-water heating. change of

far as a

the room,

the air

;

by radiators placed

no better than stove heating.

may

contribute

somewhat

but the escape of steam

may be

that

to the moisture of

not agreeable, and

allowed to exist to any great extent pleasant.

is,

not so severely parched by the extreme heat, also the

escape of steam the air

and the ventilation of the room are con-

heating by direct radiation, that

cerned, in

air

;

â&#x20AC;&#x201D;

its

odor

not

not always

Certainly the addition of moisture to the air by this

means would be a mere makeshift and Hot-water

coils act the

same

unsatisfactory.

as steam radiators in that they

heat the same air over and over again, and are no better than stoves, so far as the provision for fresh

ture and humidity,

air, at

proper tempera-

concerned.

steam or hot-water apparatus, with indirect radiation,

superior to furnace heat as ordinarily provided.

The means

supplying moisture to an indirect steam apparatus, as ordinarily constructed, are not convenient. air

connection above, that

is,

There

a radiator for each hot-

a radiator for each register, with

a distinct and direct supply of outer air thereto.

Sometimes

there are two registers connecting with a single radiator.

But

under any circumstances the radiators are somewhat separated,

A JO URATE Y THR O UGH THE HO USE.

having- steam or water connection with the boiler at the proper

Steam apparatus

point.

has been con-

buildings

public

for

structed where the radiators have been bunched, that into

chamber, the

single

heated to the proper tem-

perature, and the moisture afterwards supplied before

Where

the room.

arrangement

this

Again,

of air will not be uniform through stance, the register that

chamber may

be placed under that

and can be

the supply of heat

that

it is

This plan

may be known

for in-

may

superior to a

steam apparatus

superior to a furnace

more uniform.

constant firing or attention that hot-air furnace.

;

and the operation of the heating

-applied to hot-water or

The reason

in dwellings.

of the openings

In this event, auxiliary radiators

apparatus greatly facilitated thereby. furnace,

the register, as

removed from the warm-air

farthest

to act.

fail

all

enters

be found that the supply

will

used, there must be con-

chamber

ductors, tin or otherwise, from the in the case of a furnace.

put

passing through the chamber

air

containing the radiators, where

is,

that

does not require the

necessary in the case of a

that the temperature does not

change with the pressure of steam or

in the

same proportion.

There are inexpensive automatic arrangements

connection

with furnaces and steam apparatus, which control the dampers

and keep the steam pressure measurably uniform, as long as there

apparatus

that reason

A as to

used.

more uniform

for

first

its

operation than steam, and for

the most inexpensive apparatus that

general heating cost,

satisfactory.

furnace plant

be used

The hot-water

fuel of sufficient quantity in the fire-pot.

;

the steam apparatus

though no more expensive

The hot-water apparatus

somewhat more economical

costs

may

next higher

amount of

fuel

more than steam, and

the cost

of maintenance.

82 is

CONVENIENT HOUSES. probable that a house of moderate size can be

over at a less cost, as

far as fuel is

warmed

all

concerned, by a furnace or a

steam or hot-water heating apparatus than by stoves and grates.

However, grates are generally used the purpose of comfort

addition

and appearance, and

Under such circumstances, they consume very

these for

for ventilating.

little fuel.

CHAPTER

XII.

FURNACE ESTIMATES. HEATING DEVICES AS WE FIND THEM. DISH-WARMING COMBINATION HOT AIR AND HOT WATER. HOW TO GET A GOOD HEATING APPARATUS. ARRANGEMENTS.

FOR

the present, people

find

who

build must take things as they

them, and use heating and ventilating apparatus as

The

Experiments are uncertain.

regularly manufactured.

the-

ory of the proper heating and ventilating of a house as set forth in previous chapter in

correct.

The

fulfilment of the ideas

dwelling-house heating remains to be practically worked out.

not the business of the architect, or the housewife, or

the owner of the house, to It will

be done

work out these mechanical

time by competent mechanical experts.

In the estimates subsequently given, the furnace

means considered

details.

However,

for general heating.

the only

does not

this

indicate a prejudice in favor of that particular method.

furnace

considered and figured upon as the ordinary method

of heating houses of moderate cost.

plant to be used for general heating.

hot water or steam

be preferred

the least expensive

Indirect radiation from

to a furnace.

tion of a hot-air furnace with hot water, or steam, fair

success.

In this case, a hot- water coil

A is

servatory or other

room

inlet

used with

in a

con-

purpose of contributing a uniform

for the

The water supply

degree of heat to that room. located well above the

combina-

placed in an ordi-

nary furnace, which connects with hot-water radiators

through an

The

level of the

pipe with the

coil in

radiators,

a tank,

and connecting

the furnace.

The proper

CONVENIENT HOUSES.

means of supplying

tank with water

this

through a ball-cock

or float-cock, the float of which opens the valve

low

o-ets

source.

Thus

the tank.

hot-water radiator of this kind

nection with a device for

The heat

the supply

warming dishes

gentle, uniform,

advantage of

all

the water

as constant as the

may be used

con-

or keeping food warm.

and constant.

This

a general

hot-water heating.

Aside from the automatic arrangements steam or water pressure

for controlling the

the heating apparatus,

measurably controlling the temperature

when

and thus

the building, other

positive automatic arrangements are provided

which under-

These are proprietary

take to maintain any fixed temperature.

and advertised.

devices, patented

Complaints are made of the general inefficiency of everything under the sun tus

come

for their share.

how he would

architect

â&#x20AC;&#x201D; "Oh,

had a steam plant

sometimes asked

answers, "

wouldn't have steam.

Hot

water,

uncle

house, and they nearly froze to death

in his

The

winter; and they burned over a ton of coal a week."

and

of every kind of heating appa-

same things

are said,

ratus made,

when we consider them

eral

heat a certain building.

steam, or furnace."

all last

hence, furnaces and other heating appara-

truly,

general classes.

of a similar nature are

complaints

made

Gen-

of everything.

In regard to the steam plant or hot-water apparatus, or anything else of

which

acknowledge means.

this

Something

of the apparatus

construction bad. ;

may have been

truthfulness,

its

ratus too small

thing

at fault.

said,

one may

and then consider what It

may be

that the

first it

all

whole design

The design may be right, and the Everything else may be right, but the appafaulty.

or there

may be some

do with the placing of the apparatus

little

in the

defect which has to

house.

Sometimes,

A JOURNEY THROUGH THE HOUSE. when everything proper attention It

ratus

good form, the apparatus does not

receive

hence trouble.

may be asked how one is to get a good heating appaThe first thing to be determined is, for a dwelling-house.

the particular kind to be used

who

whether hot-water, steam, or

There are many manufacturers of the various

hot-air furnace.

apparatus,

are regularly in the business.

these

may be

submitted plans of the building, and a request for estimates and suggestions. is

putting

anything

money

will

the experience of an architect that one

who

regularly in the manufacture or production of

not waste his energies for a great length of time

a bad thing,

he knows

The evidence

it.

that an establish-

ment has been putting up good furnaces or other heating apparatus

long-continued business success.

the owner of a

house writes to an old-established, wealthy concern, and sends he

his plans,

as certain to get a reliable proposition as he

can be of anything.

kind

may

local

agent of an establishment of

The

misrepresent, unintentionally or otherwise.

way is to go to headquarters. The know exactly what should be done. settle all these

local

surest

agent does not always

competent architect can

However,

matters for an owner.

this

an architect

says there are only one or 'wo furnaces or heating apparatus

which are are

all

right,

either ignorant or dishonest.

many different kinds which will The idea in this chapter is to

and suggest what may be done.

give

fair satisfaction.

take things as

The

There

find them,

theories outlined in the

may be correct, but they do not amount to The only purpose of a man who is building to-day. is to suggest to those who are building that they go

previous chapter

anything to this

chapter

to a first-class house,

pay a

apparatus regularly

the market.

fair price,

and get the best possible